basstheface Posted April 19, 2013 Share Posted April 19, 2013 We are all united in our love of bass but I was wondering what other roles we play in our bands. For example, I also organise the band (rehearsals, diary etc), deal with all the publicity and websites, get some of the gigs and sing backing vocals and introduce most of the songs during gigs. Very often we do so much more than just turn up and play bass eg we can be publicists, agents, vocalists, leaders, arrangers, advisors and sometimes counsellors! So, what other roles do you play? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lee Carter Posted April 19, 2013 Share Posted April 19, 2013 I think it's a common thread among bass players, or at least the ones I know, we seem to be rather well organised. I arrange rehearsals (when we need them), route planner, maintain the web site, maintain the social media presence, link it all together, record gigs/rehearsals....or maybe I'm just a bit anal ;-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roland Rock Posted April 19, 2013 Share Posted April 19, 2013 Diplomat Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dandelion Posted April 19, 2013 Share Posted April 19, 2013 Taxi Driver. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xgsjx Posted April 19, 2013 Share Posted April 19, 2013 I thought it was just me! In all my bands I seem to be the one who gets everyone together, organises rehearsals & gigs etc, makes adverts, flyers & logos, writes the songs (apart from most of the lyrics, but I tend to write the melody for them). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lozz196 Posted April 19, 2013 Share Posted April 19, 2013 In The Daves I organise the rehearsals. In The Tuesday Club I look after the sound/liaising with venues re soundchecks/anyone who is filming/recording etc. I look after getting costings/quotes for works/accomodation/vehicles as well. I also tend to add/make changes to arrangements of songs. I`ve never been a good song-writer, but I`m quite good at adding little extra flourishes to something that is already there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JellyKnees Posted April 19, 2013 Share Posted April 19, 2013 Yup, me too...I'm effectively the 'band leader' for want of a better term. Organise and run the rehearsals, get the gigs, do the website, write about 50% of the music etc etc... most of it I really enjoy, apart from organising gigs - I wish the others would help me out with that side a bit more. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Low End Bee Posted April 19, 2013 Share Posted April 19, 2013 I thought it was in our contracts. Bass and general duties. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KevB Posted April 19, 2013 Share Posted April 19, 2013 Remarkably little so far in the current band. I've offered to improve the sound by dusting off my midi pedals to add a bit of keyboard sounds. However we never get enough stage area to make that practically feasible (I don't even get enough room for my monitor so I'm providing bv's with absolutely no idea what they sound like out front) so I've had to put that on hold. I've suggested new songs to try but the band never seems to rehearse to actually work up new material. I've been sent emails to give input on a new band website and to check the band's google diary. All emails so far have been lacking vital information to actually allow me to see the sites. I send emails back pointing out the errors in the emails sent to me but then nothing seems to get done to rectify it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Silvia Bluejay Posted April 19, 2013 Share Posted April 19, 2013 Waiting for Happy Jack to post his long list... Yours truly doesn't play in a band but enjoys helping with the roadying for friends, taking (lots of) photos and videos of their gigs, keeping an eye on their social media if needed, and offering her (hopefully informed) opinion of performances, recordings etc. if/when asked. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happy Jack Posted April 19, 2013 Share Posted April 19, 2013 I don't play guitar or drums, and I don't take most of the lead vocals. Apart from those exclusions ... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RockfordStone Posted April 19, 2013 Share Posted April 19, 2013 singer, lyricist, co writer, organiser, motivator, gig booker, arse kicker..... i think i pretty much do everything Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DogHammer Posted April 19, 2013 Share Posted April 19, 2013 Yes I agree that its a common thing among bassists. Fortunately I have palmed off organising practices to my singer, who's happy to sort it out. And now palmed off main gig acquisition to our new drummer (he has better contacts). Now I just have all the technical stuff. Like Recording, promotion, flyers, facebook, soundcloud and structuring practice time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cat Burrito Posted April 19, 2013 Share Posted April 19, 2013 Funny guy! I used to organise everything in my previous bands but it is seriously fun sapping. I do co-run the websites but it's hardly a chore Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jezzaboy Posted April 19, 2013 Share Posted April 19, 2013 I find the other bodies for the band apart from the drummer who I started the band with. And finding band mates via Gumtree and all the rest is bloomin stressful. Luckily the singer and drummer have lots of contacts and are facebook savy so I can leave it up to them now and kick back. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
icastle Posted April 19, 2013 Share Posted April 19, 2013 Musical director, technical expert, diplomat and common sense provider to nonsensical situations. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Vader Posted April 19, 2013 Share Posted April 19, 2013 Oh bugger, I was supposed to be building the web site, thanks for the reminder..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JTUK Posted April 19, 2013 Share Posted April 19, 2013 We are a 5 piece so share roles and 99% of the extras are split between me, the singer and gtr...and we even put a split of the kitty against this work. It is a fact of life that certain roles are easy for some and others may just not have the time or energy to devote. Home duties would trump any band duties so you have to respect that or the band will be forever putting out fires.. The least that any member should be prepared to do is sell a gig from time to time...and by that I mean, if they rounded up a few friends to help out the numbers. If very member brought 2 couples then that is 20 odd through the door and in the beginning this is most important. As long as people are willing to chip in with load-ins and general usefulness, this little effort goes a long way. Just as much as we don't want to carry a musical passenger, we don't want a slacker to hold back or antagonise things elsewhere either. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Norris Posted April 19, 2013 Share Posted April 19, 2013 (edited) Lighting engineer & rehearsal nagger (i.e actually do some) Edit: Oh, and band's facebook page Edited April 19, 2013 by Norris Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thisnameistaken Posted April 19, 2013 Share Posted April 19, 2013 I sing harmony and usually end up doing the web stuff, and I contribute to the writing either with arrangement ideas or sometimes writing parts for other people, I usually do all/most of the recording but not the mixing, I try to get involved in everything really except playing everybody else's instruments. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt P Posted April 19, 2013 Share Posted April 19, 2013 [indent=1]taxi driver, technical director (guitars, amps, PA and recording kit), and tea boy (we're so rock and roll that we start each rehersal with mugs of tea and biscuits)[/indent] [indent=1]the singer/guitarist covers the rest, our drummer is notoriously disorganised although he did a top job of being my best man![/indent] [indent=1]Matt[/indent] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gapiro Posted April 19, 2013 Share Posted April 19, 2013 (edited) Our drummer _tries_ to do everything. We reign him in. I typically do posters, and contracts etc. Basically printing/ editing documents, and sending them off. I usually also set up the sound system, in part. Our drummer is a sound engineer by profession, but his kit is so absurdly big, I usually set most of it up and let him faff around after he's done. Keys player is a builder -> has van -> transports gear + 2 people. I usually collect our singer from a train station somewhere to go whereever we're going. Edited April 19, 2013 by gapiro Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigRedX Posted April 19, 2013 Share Posted April 19, 2013 Writer of most of the music, graphic designer, equipment technician. Mr Venom does all the band organisational stuff like fixing rehearsals and organising gigs. I have been the position in previous bands where I did absolutely everything except play the other instruments, and I am in no hurry to repeat that experience. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mep Posted April 19, 2013 Share Posted April 19, 2013 Taxi driver for quite a few gigs, orgainse the odd gig, do the PA mixing during the gig. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Twigman Posted April 19, 2013 Share Posted April 19, 2013 (edited) Most of us have our 'other' roles. Currently: me: driver & facebook page admin guitarist: tour manager and booking agent drummer: finance singer: books rehearsals, webiste co-ordinator & facebook page admin keyboardist: caterer & Facebook page admin Edited April 19, 2013 by Twigman Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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